Sculptures chosen for St. Charles park exhibit

Sculptures in Mount St. Mary Park in St. Charles. The annual sculpture in the park series kicks off April 15. (Handout, St. Charles Park District)

As spring comes to St. Charles, so does the eighth annual Sculpture in the Park exhibition.

Nine works created by nine artists from across the country will be showcased along the walking path of Mt. St. Mary Park from April 15 through Sept. 15.

"Visitors will be able to experience a range of style and expression, all in a beautiful, natural setting," Ray Ochromowicz, executive director of the St. Charles Park District, said in a news release.

This year's menagerie consists of Bomb Pop by Howard Russo of St. Charles, Seuss's Needle by Todd Willing of St. Charles, Solitude by Douglas Eageny of St. Charles, Stars on the Wind by Richard Taylor of Milwaukee, Mr. Eggwards by Kimber Fiebiger of Minneapolis, Quarks VI by Guy Bellaver of St. Charles, Fox River and Padre Pio by Titus Tomescu of Chicago, Leo and Sympatico by Pokey Park of Tucson, Ariz., and My Rescue by Martha Cares of Sawyer, Mich. All sculptures will be for sale.

Along with six permanent sculptures, those on temporary display bring the number of pieces to 15.

Selecting the sculptures begins in February when a panel of volunteers made up of Park District employees and St. Charles art enthusiasts suggests artists for consideration, according to Ochromowicz. The artists return renderings, and those whose works are chosen receive $500 stipends.

"We want a quality piece that can weather the outdoors and minor tampering because kids will see it and touch it," Ochromowicz said. "We look for something dynamic. It's really about how intriguing a piece is."

This year marks the third time Eageny will create a piece for the event.

"I'm very honored to be chosen," he said. "I live in St. Charles, so to be able to see my work down there and appreciated by people is very rewarding."

Eageny said he had found that those who had seen his sculpture, Solitude, tend to see themselves in it, which was his intent.

"It's made out of steel and is about eye level, so it's kind of like a reflection back on people," he said.

Tomescu is contributing a sculpture of Padre Pio, a Catholic saint. Cast in limestone, the piece was created at the request of an acquaintance diagnosed with lung cancer. This marks the first year Tomescu's work will be on display at Sculpture in the Park.

"I'm flattered that they decided to accept me," he said.

Visitors will get a chance to meet some of the artists at a reception at the site of the exhibit from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 14, weather permitting.

"We make it a bit of a wine-and-cheese party, with a couple of high school musicians playing in the background," Ochromowicz said.

Sculpture in the Park is made possible by the efforts of the St. Charles Park District, the St. Charles Park Foundation and the Downtown St. Charles Partnership. Last year's exhibit ran for six months and drew more than 8,000 visitors.